Chair



. July 23, 1940. a JUNGBALIJER 2,208,561

CHAIR Filed 'June 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1- Frank L. dungbauer y 23, 1940- .F. L. JUNGBAUER 2.208561 CHAIR Filed June 13, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet Frank L. dungbauer July 23, 1940.

F. L. JUNGBAUER 2,208,

CHAIR Filed June 13, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwue/wfov Frank L. dung'bauer miowm s -Fig. -6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational;

Patented July 23, 1940 i n p 2,208,561

Frank L. J

. CHAIR.

ungbauer, StQP-aul, Minn., assignor to A. E. Fritz, St. PaulyMinn.

Application June 1a, 1928, 'SerialJNo. 213,413

:My invention relates to chairsand particularly rest, and has for an object to .provide a construction by means of be easilyand quickly adjusted in a back and forth direction.

Another object of the invention resides in proyiding a chair in which the back rest may be adjusted while the-operator is seated on the chair. the invention resides .in providing a chairin which the back rest belocked in adjusted position.

-A feature of the'invention resides in providing a construction by means of which the back rest held in adjusted position.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a chair in which the backrest'may .to chairs having a back which the back rest may A still further object of comes automatically may be yieldingly be locked in adjusted position.

An object of the invention resides in providing a construction whereby the back rest may be .either. .yieldingly or rigidly supported.

An object of the inventionresides' in providing for yieldingly resisting rearward movement of the back rest and in further providing a locking device for locka spindle having a spring thereon ing movement of the spindle whereby the spring is rendered inoperable.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 s a perspective view of a chair illustrating an .embodiment of my invention.

Fig. .2 is an inverted sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig.1 and drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational viewtaken on line 3- 3 of Fig. 2.

. Fig.4 is a fragmentary .elevational sectional view taken on line 4+4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar toFig. 4 taken on line 5+5 of Fig. 2.

view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. '1 is a cross sectional view 1-1 of Fig. 6.

In the use of the so-called posture chairs it is important that the back rest be rigidly positioned the back of the v at a proper position to support user, which position must bereadily and preferably while the user is seated on the chair. With such chairs it frequently becomes user to lean back in the chair and to provide .resilient means for resisting desirable to permit the such movement of the back rest.

invention provides a construction by means of which the back rest may either be locked in rigid taken on line 10 Claims. (Cl. 155 161) reference numeral I 0.

thereon.

ports a back rest 15. The back rest scribed in detail.

A the seatl3. I

2| and 22 forming a cross frame the lower portion of the "frame.

members.

bers 2i and 22 of frame l4 and adjustable tached to said frame atthe off-sets .31 and 38.

constructed from The present with two grooves and .of my invention, I have shown in the drawings a chair adapted to be usedas a stenographers chair and which is. indicated in its entirety by the The chair consists of a base H, a seat frame i2, and a. seat I3 mounted .15

Extending upwardly from the seat frame [2 and connected to it at the rearward portion thereof is a vertical frame M which supliiis adjustable ina back and forth direction and the construction by means of which this is accomplished constitutesthe principal feature of this invention. The various parts of the chair H1 will now be dey The base i I may be constructed in any desired. manner.; In the form of the chair shown, four tubular legs [6 are illustrated which are connected to a socketed head l1. These legs have attached to them casters l8. which rest upon the floor. The head I! is secured by a construction to be presently described to the frame 12' which carries" The vertical frame l4 consists of two vertical frame members 2i and 22, a cross frame member 23 at-the upper portions of the frame members 2! and .22.and cross frame member sections 24 and 25 at the lower portions of the frame members member 29 at The frame 14 isconstructed from a singlelength of any suitable tubular material which'isbent to form the various members referred to. v The frame sections 24 and .25 are secured together by brazing or otherwise. The vertical frame members 2! and 22 are constructed with reverse bends 36 near their upper ends which form off-sets 3'1 and 38, in the said frame members 2! and 22, which are disposed inwardly offthe major portions of the same frame The back rest I5 may be constructed in any suitable manner and has attached to it two. brackets 21 which arepivotally connected to suitable supports carried by the vertical frame memwhich are at- The frame I2 is best shown in Fig. 2, and is a single bar of metal which is bent to provide two longitudinally extending frame members 31 and 32, a rearwardly extending cross frame member 33 and two forwardly extending cross frame member sections 35 and 36 which are joined together at 31 to form a single front cross frame member. 38. 'At' the center of the frame is provided a block 39 which is formed 42 .onopposite sides thereof. Two brackets 43 and 44 are attached to the block 39 and have parallel portions 45 which are received within the grooves 4| and 42.

Attachment of these brackets to the block 39 is accomplished by means of two bolts 40 which extend jointly through the block 39 and through the parallel portions 45 of the brackets 43 and 44. These brackets have diagonally extending legs 46 which terminate in cars 41 attached to the cross frame members 33 and 38, by means of rivets 48. The block 39 has secured to it a vertically extending standard 49 mounted in the socketed head l1. By means. of this construction, a swivel is provided whereby the seat I 8 may rotate with reference. to the base II. If desired, an adjustment may be provided whereby the standard may be heldinyertically adjusted position with respect'to the base II to accommodate the height of the usen; ,The seat I3 has attached to the underside thereof, by means of bolts or screws twolongitudinally extending supporting bars 52., These bars have downturned ears 53 formed thereon which overlie the ears 4? of brackets 43 and 45 and which are attached tothe-f'rame I2 by means of the rivets 48, previously referred to. By" means of this construction the seat I3 is rigidly attached to the frame I2. v

The vertically extending frame I4 is pivotally mounted on the frame I2 in the following manner. At the joinder of the cross frame member 33 and the longitudinal frame members 3I and 32 are formed two loops 54 and 55. These loops are constructed with spaced portions 58 and 59 which provide spaces, 56 therebetween. The vertical frame members 2I and 22 are arranged within said spaces and are pivoted tothe frame I2 by means of rivets 62 which pass through the portions 58 and 59 of the loops 54 and 55 and through the said upright frame members. These rivets are so positioned that the lowermost cross frame member 28 is positioned somewhat below the frame I2, as shown in Fig.3.

The supporting device for the back rest I5 utilizes two threaded rods 63 and 64 which are constructed with reduced shanks '65 at the rearward ends of the same. These rods extend through openings 66 in the lower frame member 28 of frame I4 and are threaded into a short rod 6'! disposed within the frame member 20. The ends of the shanks 65 may be riveted over through openings'fifl formed inthe portions of the frame member 28 opposite the openings 66 55. I. .Y and 64 may rock relative to the frame member as will become evident from Fig.5; The openings 6,6 are sufficiently large so that the rods 63 1 29 to accommodate, relative movement between said rods and the frame l4 when the back rest is operated- Adjustment of the back rest frame I4 is had through an adjusting mechanism 60. Formedon the underside of the block, is boss 69 which is threaded to receive a threaded stud II projecting outwardly therefrom. This stud is held in fixed positionwithin the boss 69' by means of a set screw I2... A threaded nut 13 (Fig. 4) is adapted to screw upon the stud 1| This nut is itself threaded upon the exterior, as designated at 'I 4,and screws into the tubular shank I5 of a handle it. The nut 13 is held in'position with reference to the. tubular shank 75 by means of a set screw 11.

Extendingacross the two rods 63 and 64 isa crossbar I8 which serves as the'adjusting memwhich is rotatably is formed with two holes 19 which receive the ends of the rods 63 and 64 and with a central hole 8I through which the nut 13 projects. Nut I3 i constructed with a shouldered head 82 and the end 83 of the shank 15 forms another abutment by meansof which the cross bar I8 may be moved forwardly and rearwardly as the handle 15 is rotated and the nut 13 screwed upon the stud 'H.

' The ends of the rods 68. and 64 are reduced in diameter and threaded as indicated at 84 in Fig. 5. Upon these threaded ends are screwed nuts 85 which abut against the shoulders formed between said reduced portions and the rods proper and which form abutments against which the cross bar 78 may abut and whereby the back jacent the cross bar I8 andthe head 82 of the nut I3 engages said lever and holds the lever in juxtaposition with respect to-said cross bar. By means of the said shoulder and lever the cross bar 18 may be moved forwardly through the shoulder 82, and by means of shoulder 83 said cross bar which is directly in contact therewith may be moved rearwardly.

Encircling the two rods 63 and 64 are compression coil springs 96. These coil springs are seated against the body portion 89 of lever 86 and against adjusting nuts 91 screwed upon the threaded ends .of said rods. By means of these nuts the fiexure of the springs 96 may be adjusted so that any desired degree of pressure may be exerted to force the back rest rearwardly.

The body 89 of lever 86 is formed with two openings 92 and 93 which have reduced portions 94 eccentrically arranged with reference thereto 7 as best shown in Fig. 6. The openings 9?. and

are of sufiicient size to receive the rods 63 and 64 which may slide freely through the same. 'In the rods 63 and 64' and in proximity to the lever 86 are formed annular grooves 95 which have an internal diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the reduced portion 94 of the openings 92 and 93. When the lever 86 is oscillated about the nut 13 as a pivot, the portions of the body 89 of said lever adjacent the reduced portions 94 of the openings 92 and 93 may be brought into engagement with grooves 95. This looks the cross bar 18 frommovement with reference to the rods 63 and 64 and prevents movement of the back rest excepting through manipulation of' the nut 13.

' The operation of the invention is as follows: When the lever 86 is depressed by means of the finger'piece 88, the portion of the said lever adjacent the reduced portions '94 of openingsSZ and 93 are forced into the grooves 95 of the rods 63 and 64. Due to the fact that the lever'86 is held from movement in the direction of the axis of the rods 63 and 64 by meansof shoulder 82 of nut I3this procedure serves to lock the rods from movement with reference to thecross bar 18 and the nut I3 and handle I5. The back rest a l5 thus becomes rigidly positioned. The position 'ber of the adjusting mechanism. This cross bar [of the back rest y be determined by rotating the handle 16 and moving the nut" along the trio with the rods be yieldingly moved rearwardly,

stud H. When it becomes desirable to use the chair with the springs so that the back rest may the fingerpiece 88 of lever 86 is elevated and the openings 92 and 93 are caused to register with the rods 63 and 64. Inasmuch as these openings are concentric with said rods, the rods may slide without obstruction and rearward pressure on the back rest I5 will force the said rods forwardly, said movement being resisted by the springs 96.

To limit movement of the lever 86 to the position in which the openings 92 and 93 are concen- 63 and 64 a stop is employed which is best shown in Fig. 6. This stop includes a screw 98 which extends through a slot 99 in in the body 89 of lever 86 and is threaded into the cross bar 18. This screw extends for some distance outwardly beyond the lever '86 and is provided with two washers lfll mounted on the same. Between these washers is disposed a com-,

pression coil spring I02 which causes one washer to bear against the body 89 of lever '86 and causes sufficient friction between the said lever and the cross bar 18 so that the said lever is frictionally held in either of its adjusted positions. Springs 96 also assist in holding the lever in adjusted position. The slot 9!! is so constructed that upon the screw 98 engaging the body 89 at the ends of said slot the movement of the lever is terminated at its two proper extreme positions.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely practical construction is provided by means of which the user of the chair may easily convert the chair into a lean back chair or a chair having a rigid back rest. Adjustment of the position of the'back rest can be had while the user is seated on the chair and likewise conversion of the chair'may be had while the user is seated. By means of the friction member used in conjunction with the invention, the parts are positively held in adjusted position. My invention may be constructed at a nominal expense. The device will not readily get out of order and is subjected to a minimum amount of wear.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

I. In a chair, a seat frame, a pivoted back rest frame extending upwardly therefrom, a rod pivotally connected to the back rest frame and extending in juxtaposition with respect to the seat frame, a spring encircling said rod and seated at one end against a part carried by said rod and seated at its other end againstan adjusting member carried by said seat frame, said rod being normally movable in a back and forth direction relative to said member to accommodate flexing of said spring stopmeans on said rod engaging said member to limit the rearward movement of the rod, means forlocking said rod from movement with respect to said member in a direction tending to flex said spring, and means for moving said adjusting member relative to the seat frame in the direction of said rod to adjust the position of said back rest.

'2. In a chair, a seat frame, a back rest frame extending upwardly therefrom, pivot means for pivoting said back rest frame to said seat frame, said back rest frame having a portion extending below said pivot means, an elongated member pivoted to said portion of the back rest frame and extending below the seat frame, an adjusting member adjustably attached to said seat frame and movable relative to the seat frame in the direction of extent of said elongated member, said elongated member being movable relative to said; 5

stop means on said elongated member engaging said adjusting member to limit the rearward movement of the elongated member, and means for locking said elongated member and adjusting member from relative movement in a direction tending to flex said resilient means.

3. In a chair, a seat frame, a back rest frame extending upwardly therefrom, pivot means for pivoting said back rest frame to said seat frame, said back rest frame having 'a portion extending below said pivot means, a rod pivoted to said por tion of the back rest frame and extending below the seat frame said rod being movable in a back and forth direction, an adjusting member movably connected tothe seat frame for movement relative to the seat frame in the direction of 8X? tent of the rod, said rod extending in proximity to said adjusting member, resilient means acting between said rod and said adjusting member stop means on said rod engaging said member to limit the rearward movement of the rod and means for locking said rod from movement with respect to said adjusting member in a direction tending to flex said resilient means.

4. In a chair, a seat frame, a back rest frame extending upwardly therefrom, pivot. means forl pivoting said back rest frame to said seat frame, said back rest frame having a portion extending below said pivot means, a threaded rod pivoted to said portion of the back rest frame and movable in a back and forth direction, a nut screwed OIiLg said rod, an adjusting member movably connected to said seat frame for movement in the direction of extent of said rod, said adjusting member having an opening therein through which the rod extends, a spring encircling said rod, said nut forming an abutment for resisting movement of said spring in one direction and said adjusting member forming an abutment for resisting movement of said spring in the other direction, stop meanson said rod engaging said member to limit; the rearward movement of the rod, and means for locking said rod from movement relative to said adjusting member in a direction tending to flex said spring.

5. In a chair, a seat frame, a back rest frame g55 extending upwardly therefrom, pivot means for pivoting said back rest frame to said seat frame, said back rest frame having a portion extending below said pivot means, a threaded rod pivoted to said portion of the back rest frame and being spring resisting rearward movement of the back' rest frame, stop means on said rod engaging said member to limit the rearward movement of the rod, and locking means movable transversely with 60 formed with a shoulder said rod being movable in respect to the direction of extent ofsaid rod and engaging said shoulder for preventing relative movement between said rod and adjusting member in a direction tending to flex said spring.

' bar having openings therein through which both of said rods extend, means connected to said seat frame and cross bar for moving said cross bar in the direction of extent of said rods, resilient means acting between said rods and cross bar,

stop means on said rods engaging said cross bar ,said rods from movement with respect to said to limit rearward movement of the rods, and locking means for simultaneously locking both of cross bar in a direction tending to flex said springs.

'7. In a chair, a seat frame, a back rest frame extending upwardly therefrom, pivot means for pivoting said back rest frame to said seat frame, said back rest frame having a portion extending below said pivot means, two parallel rods pivoted to' said portion of the back rest frame and extending below said seat frame said rods being movable in a back and forth direction, a cross bar having openings therein through which both of said rods extend, means connected to said seat frame and cross bar for moving said cross bar in the direction of extent of said rods, resilient means acting between said rods and cross bar, stop means on said rods engaging said cross bar to limit rearward movement of the rods, a lever pivoted to said cross bar at a'locality intermediate said rods, said rods having grooves therein and means on said lever for simultaneously engaging said grooves to lock the cross bar from movement relative to said rods.

8. In a chair, a seat frame, a back rest frame extending upwardly therefrom, pivot means for pivoting said back rest frame to said seat frame, said back rest frame having a portion extending below said pivot means, two parallel rods pivoted to said portion of the back rest frame and extending below said seat frame, said rods being movable in a back and forth direction, a cross bar having openings through which both of said rods extend, stop means on said rods engaging said cross bar to limit rearward movement of the rods, threaded means carrying said cross bar and restrained from axial movement with respect thereto, a threaded member attached to said seat frame and engaging said threaded means, said threaded means upon rotation moving said cross bar in the. direction of extent of said rods and a lever pivoted tosaid cross bar with its axis at the axis of said threaded means and member, and means on said lever for engaging said rods and locking said rods from movement relative to said "ing below said seat framesaid rods being movable in a back and forth direction, a cross bar having,

openings through which both of said rods extend, stop means on said rods engaging said cross bar to limit rearward movement of the rods, threaded means carrying said cross bar and restrained from axial movement with respect thereto, a-

threaded member attached to said seat frame and engaging said threaded means, said threaded means upon rotation moving said cross bar in the direction of extent of said rods, a lever pivoted to said cross bar with its axis at the axis of said threaded means and member, said rods having circumferentially extending grooves therein disposed in proximity to said lever, said lever having openings therein through which said rods may freely slide, the marginal portions of said lever at the openings being adapted to be simultaneously moved into said grooves when the lever is moved into one position to lock the rods from movement relative to the cross bar and springs acting between said lever and rods for resisting rearward movement of the back rest frame when the lever is out of engagement with said grooves.

10. In a chair, a seat frame, a back rest frame extending upwardly therefrom, pivot means for pivoting said back rest frame to said seat frame, said backrest frame having a portion extending below said pivot means, two parallel rods pivoted to said portion of the back rest frame and extendingbelow said seat frame, said rods being movable in a back and forth direction, a cross bar having openings through which both of said rods extend, stop meanson said rods engaging said cross bar to limit rearward movement of the rods, threaded means carrying said cross bar and restrained from axial movement with respect thereto, a threaded member attached to said seat frame and engaging said threaded means, said threaded means upon rotation moving said cross bar in the direction of extent of said rods, a lever pivoted to said cross bar with its axis at the axis of said threaded means and member, said rods having circumferentially extending grooves therein disposed in proximity to said lever, said lever having openings therein through which said rods may freely slide, the marginal portions of said lever at the openings being adapted to be simultaneously moved into said grooves when the lever is moved in to one position to lock the rods from movement relative to the cross bar, nuts threaded on said rods and springs acting between said lever and nuts for resisting rearward movement of the back rest frame when the lever is out of engagement with said grooves,

FRANK L. JUNGBAUER. 

